Comets react well to pressure

Feb. 27, 2008

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Sports Writer

Kyle Schimming, above left, and Matt Bassitt, above right, are among the players that provide Genoa with strong balance. The Comets play in the district semis Thursday. / Jonathon Bird/News Herald

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Genoa has won its last three games by a total of six points, including a 71-68 overtime victory over Swanton in a sectional final.

And Comets coach Jeff Overmyer believes the close contests could certainly serve his team well. Genoa plays Fairview in the district semifinals at 8 p.m. Thursday at Napoleon.

"The players have confidence that we can make plays in tight situations at the end of close games," Overmyer said.

"Resiliency. Our guys just don't seem to be effected when opponents make runs or when we're struggling at the offensive end. Our guys just continue to fight and work and have found ways to make plays at clutch times."

Genoa, which won the Suburban Lakes League, defeated Elmwood 66-60 to start conference play. It topped Eastwood 81-77 in triple overtime and bettered Swanton 68-66 in the regular season the next night.

The Comets closed the regular season with a 51-49 victory over Gibsonburg before beating Woodmore 61-60 to win the SLL outright.

Ben Sutter hit two three-pointers in the final minute of regulation in Genoa's sectional victory over Swanton.

"Even though we were down six with under a minute to go that's still a two-possession basketball game," Overmyer said. "The players believe that if there's time left on the clock we still have a chance. The guys have believed all season and there was no reason to believe we couldn't come back from that deficit."

"We've talked about balance all season," Overmyer said. "I've never been part of a team at any level that had eight players lead the team in scoring for a game at some point. Nine guys have scored in double figures in a game. That stat speaks to the balance of our team at the offensive end of the floor."

"It's not a two-man or three-man show," Overmyer said. "They have others capable of scoring in double figures also.

"They're a very quick and athletic team. They're a dangerous team in transition. Plus Joost gives them a nice inside presence on both ends of the floor."

Fairview will likely play man-to-man and zone defense.

"We're prepared for all of that," Overmyer said.

In fact, Overmyer said the SLL has prepared his team for just about anything this season.

"The variety of styles of basketball we saw during league play has definitely helped prepare us for the tournament," he said. "We've seen every possible type of defense. We've seen a variety of defenses and offensive looks so there shouldn't be any surprises from any team we'll face."

Fairview, which is making its first trip to districts since 1995, is only 12-10 but seven of the eight teams in the Green Meadows Conference had winning records.

"It was a strong basketball league this year," Overmyer said.

Genoa lost to Patrick Henry in the district semifinals last season.

"The guys have looked at the challenge of taking the next step," Overmyer said. "We did that in the league moving from second to first. We've reached the same plateau as last year and with a win we can surpass that so that's an attainable goal for us."